Signaling system.



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EDWARD E. KLEINSCHMIDT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE M. SEELEY, OF NEW YORK,

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed August 10.1906. Serial No. 330,098.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, EDWARD E. KLEINscHMIDr, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, New York city, in the county of New York arid State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a block signaling system and has been designed primarily ior single track electric roads in which thereturn current is taken through the rails.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a general diagrammatic view of the system showing a single track line with sidings and one block; Fig. 2 lan enlarged view of the insulated section of one of the track rails; Fig. 3 a diagrammatic view of the track relay; and Fig. 4 a similar view of a modified form of track relay.

Similar' reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views.

Before entering'upon a detailed description of the circuits and of the specific mechanisms illustrated necessary to effect the setting and clearing of the signals I will state generally the practical conditions obtaining in the operation of the system.

l have shown four signals A, B, C and D which may be of any-approved type and so located with reference to a given block that A and B shall be simultaneously set or cleared by a car or train going in one direction, 1 and C and D simultaneously set or cleared by a car going in the opposite direction so as to prevent the meeting of cars upon the main line in the blocks. lt will be assumed that a car or'train 1 traveling west in the direction'of thearrowfkeepsthe main track 3, and that a car or'train 2 traveling east in the direction of the arrow takes the sidings '4,and 4 Normally all signals are clear and for the sake of simplicity the setting and, clearing of the signals will be stated under four conditions with reference to the two cars as follows.

, First, when car 1 enters a block'as indicated by its position in Fig. l on a clear signal the signal A will bc set at danger against the ear following and at the same time signal B will be set at danger against a car cdming in the opposite direction. When car l leaves the block l the signals A and B will be cleared.

A'enters the block as indicated by its position in Fig. l., .signal C will be set at danger against the car following and signal D Will be set at danger against a car coming in thel opposite direction on the main track. When cai` V2 leaves the block the signals and D will be cleared.

Third, if car l. having set the signals A and B as above described is in the block at the point 1 and car 2 should enter siding 4 the latter car will stop by reason of signal A being set at danger. lf, however, car 2 should proceed to its position in Fig. 1 it will set signals O .and D as above described and will not proceed further until signal B is cleared. It will be observed that in the assumed relation of cars l and 2 the latter `will set-D at danger against a car following l so that while 4car l is in the block and car 2 on siding 4 waiting for l topass, both signals A and D will be set against a car iollowing l. Signal A will be cleared when car 1 passes out of the block leaving .D at danger until car 2 going east passes out of the block. l

Fourth, assuming that car 2 is the first to reach the block then signal C will be set against the car following and signal against a car coming in the opposite direction as above described. If while car 2 is within the block, car l traveling in the opposite direction reaches the position indicated in Fig. 1 then signals A and B will be set by car 1 as abov'e described, the latter proceeding to enter the block 'only when signal D is cleared by reason of car number 2 passing out of the block.

Signals and B, however, remain set at danger until car l passes out of the block.

Having given this general description of the setting and clearing of the signals I will now describe the controlling circuits and the Aspecific mechanisms employed in the system. n

As shown in Fig. l onerail of the main line track 3 is divided at the beginning and end of a block into three sections/5, 6 and 7 by suitable insulation, the traclle tween these two insulated portions constituting a block. One rail of the sidings 4 and 4 is similarly divided, the signals A, B, O and D being conveniently loca ed with reference to the block. The purpose in dividing a portion of one of the rails of the main track and of the sidings in the manner stated is to prevent vthe signals being operated by wagons crossing the tracks. The section 5 is made longer thanV either of the sections 6 and 7 in order to obtain sufficient contact with the wheels of the car truck. i In practice the section 5 is made about twenty feet in length so as to be covered by the ordinary car truck, and the sections 6 and 7 are each made about live feet in length. The insulation between these sections being only about onehalf inch in thickness an ordinary tire wheel is capable of bridging the insulation, but by separating the intermediate section 5, which is .the only section included in the circuit as hereafter described, from the rest of the rail by the sections 6 and 7 this liabilityl is entirely obviated as shown in the drawings the rail sections carrying the return current are connected by a suitable bond. .v

I will describe first the operation of the system in setting and clearing the signals A and B by car 1, each of these signals being simultaneously operated. The numeral 8 designates the power line and 9 a solenoid included in a circut 10 receiving current from the power line. The core of solenoid 9 is connected by a link 11 with the blade of signal A, said solenoid being normally energized to hold the signal at safety position. Included in a circuit 12 receiving current from the power line through an interposed resistance 13 is a solenoid switch 14 the core of which carries a contact plate adapted to Contact with the terminals of circuit 10. This switch 14 is normally closed. Also included in said circuit 12 are relay contacts 15 which are normally closed. For the purpose of opening circuit 12 to thereby deenergize solenoid 9 I provide a relay magnet 16 included in a local batteryl circuit 17 which circuit also includes the return rail of track 3 and the intermediate section 5 of the insulated portion of said rail. This magnet as shown in Fig. 3 has two separate windings one of which 18 is of relatively low resistance and the other 19 of relatively high resistance. When car 1 enters the block the truck wheels contact withithe intermediate section 5 of the insulated portion thereby closing the local battery circuit 17 through relay magnet 16. When the latter is thus energized its armature 20 will be attracted, separating contacts 15 and opening circuit 12. This denergizes the coil of switch 14 and permits its core to withdraw to thereby open circuit 10 as indicated in Fig. 1. Solenoid 9 now being denergized the spectacle end of the block of signal A will move said signal to danger position.

It will be noted that in addition to the battery current passing through the relay magnet a portion of the return current maypass through said magnet, as for example, when the car is passing over the insulated section 5 under power. In such case should there be an accidental .interruption of the track return circuit between the car wheels and the return rail an undue load would be thrown into the low resistance coil 18 of the relay magnet. To prevent any injury to the coil from this cause I construct the relay magnet as above described and provide an interrupter adapted to be operated by the armature 20. The particular form of interrupter shown comprises a block 21 of insulating material pivoted at 22. Said block has secured to it a plate 23 carrying a Contact which normally closes a shunt circult 24 around the high resistance coil 19. The terminals of the shunt circuit are held in Contact by spring 25 which is made strong enough to over-balance the pull of magnet 16 when the latter is energized by a low voltage only. This spring may be secured to an arm projecting from the base of block 21 as shown. When magnet 16 is energized only by the current flowing through battery cir cuit 17 its armature 20 is moved only a sufficient distance to separate the terminal contacts 15. As shown in the drawings said armature carries an insulated section 20 which when the armature is attracted abuts against a projection on block 21, the pull of the magnet not being sufficient to rock said block against spring 25 under a low voltage. The terminals of shunt circuit 24 will, therefore, be maintained in contact under the condition stated. Under an abnormally high extent as to move the armature 20 a distance sufficient to overcome spring 25, the resulting rocking of block 21 opening shunt circuit 24. When the high resistance coil 19 is thus interposed in circuit 17 no injury will result to the magnet coils. Under normal conditions the shunt circuit 24 is a part of circuit 17 and practically no current will pass through the high resistance coil 19. Under abnormal conditions circuit 24 is open at 52 which thus throws the high resistance coil into circuit 17.

At the same time that signal A is set at danger by car 1 against a car following, signal B is set against a car coming in the opposite direction to prevent the latter entering the block. For this purpose the solenoid 26, which is connected to the blade of signal B, is included in circuit 10 with solenoid 9 which controls the movements of signal A. Solenoids 9 and 26 will remain denergized and signals A and B will remain set at danger'as long as car 1 is in the block. When said car reaches the end of the block, as indicated at the left of the main track, and the truck wheel contacts with section 5 of the insulated portion ofthe rail of track 3 at that point, signals A and B will be cleared or moved to safety position by the following means. l

The section 5 is included in a battery circuit 27 which circuit also includes a relay magnet 28 similar to the magnet 16 heretofore described. When said circuit is closed and magnet 28 energized the armature 29 of the latter is attracted thereby closing circuit 30 through the contact terminals 31 one of which terminals is secured to the armature 29 and the other to a pivoted insulated block 32. Circuit 30 receives current from the power line and in said circuit is included a solenoid switch 33 which unlike switch 14 is normally open. The core of solenoid 33 carries a contact plate 34 adapted when the coil of said solenoid is energized to close a shunt circuit around the resistance 35 thus allowing the full current to Iiow through solenoids 9 and 26. When said solenoids are energized their cores will be drawn inwardly thus restoring signals A and B to safety position and clearing the block normally, that is, when there is no car on a track circuit, the circuits of solenoids 9 and 26 are through the resistance 35 so that although the current is reduced to prevent the operation of the signal it is sufiicient to hold the signal at safety position after it has been brought down.

The means employed for setting and clearing the signals C and D by car 2 traveling west are similar in all respects to the means above described, for setting and clearing the signals A and B by car 1 traveling east, the corresponding parts being marked by similar reference numerals primed. In the case of a car traveling west, however, the insulated sections of the track are placed on the sidings 4 and 4 as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

All of the relay magnets have low and high resistance coils and a shunt circuit for the high resistance coil for the purpose above described.

In describing the present system I have assumed that either car 1 or car 2 enters the block at a clear signal. Should, however, car 2 enter the siding so far as to cover the insulated section oi one of the rails of said siding while car 1 is within the block, then signals voltage the pull of magnet 16 is augmented to such l C and D will also be set at danger. Car 2 will not proceed until car 1 has cleared signals A and B. Signals C and D, however, will remain at danger until cleared by car 2.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of relay magnet which comprises two separate magnets 45 and 46. The former is energized through a low resistance coil and the latter through a high resistance coil. The armature 47 is common to both magnets and carries a terminal 48 adapted to contact with a terminal 49. Under normal conditions of low voltage the signal circuit will be opened by magnet 45. Under abnormal conditions of high voltage the increased pull of magnet 45 will be sufficient to rock block 21 to open shunt circuit 24. This form of relay magnet may be employed instead of the form illustrated in Fig. 1. v

rl`he type of signal illustrated is the ordinary semaphore signal the spectacle oi which is adapted to cover or uncover a lamp. The lamps are included in circuits 40 controlled by switches 41 so that at night-either a red or white signal light will be given according to the position of the semaphore blade. l

In order that motormen may be advised that the signals have been properly set I include a solenoid switch 42 in each signal circuit, the coils of said solenoids being normally energized to hold the switches open.

When, for example, signal A is set at danger the corresponding solenoid 42 will be denergized thus permitting its core to drop to close a local circuit 43 which includes a lamp or other signal 44 placed at any convenient point in observation. When the car passes out of the block the lamp is extinguished by the breaking of its circuit.

It will be understood that the blocks may be of any number and length depending upon local conditions and that the signals may be located at such points with reference to the blocks as to insure proper observation on the part oi motormcn. It will also be understood that the mechanical features above described are given merely-for the purpose of illustration as they-may be varied according to circumstances without departing from the invention.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that an essential feature of the invention consists in operating automatic block signals on a single track electric road by closing a track circuit through the wheels and axle of a car truck using a direct current for operating a track relay, provisionbeing made to prevent injury to the track relay through any accidental4 interruption of the track circuit.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A signal system in which the return current for oprating the car is taken-through the track rails said system comprising a track battery circuit, a relay included in said circuit, said circuit being closed by the passage of a car or train, and means for interposing a resistance in said circuit when the voltage exceeds that of the battery.

2. A signal systemcomprising a track relay adapted to operate the signal circuits, said relay having high and low resistance coils, a track circuit in which said relay is included, said relay being normally energized only through the low resistance coil, and means for interposing the high resistance coil in the circuit under abnormal conditions.

3. A signal system comprising a track relay adapted to operate the signal circuits, said relay having high and low resistance coils, a track circuit in which said relay is included, said relay being normally energized only through the low resistance coil, a normally closedvshunt circuit around the high resistance coil, and means for opening said shunt circuit under abnormal conditions.

4. A signal system comprising a track relay adapted to operate the signal circuits, said relay having high and low resistance coils, a. track circuit in which said relay is included, said relay being normally energized only through the low resistance coil, a normally closed shunt circuit around the high resistance coil, and means actuated by the movement of the relay armature to open said shunt circuit under abnormal conditions.

5. A signal system in which the return current for operating the car is taken through the track rails, said system comprising a track battery circuit, a relay having high and low resistance coils included'in said circuit, said relay being normally energized only throughthe 10W resistance coil, and means for interposing the high resistance coil, in the circuit under abnormal conditions.

64A blk signal system for a single track road having sidings, said system comprising four independently placed signals adapted to be operated in pairs one at each end of the block', .track battery circuits for operating the signals, insulated rail sections in both the main track and the sidings at the entrance and end of the block through which said circuits are closed by the passage of a car or train, mechanism adapted to be operated upon the closing of a track circuit by a car or train traveling in a given direction to set a. pair of signals, and independent mechanism adapted to be operated upon the closing of another track circuit by a car or train traveling inan opposite direction to set the other pair of signals while the rst pair of signais remain set. l

7. A block signal system for a single track road having sidings said Asystem comprising four signals adapted to be operated in pairs one at each end of the block, means at the sidings adapted to be set in operation by a car or train traveling in a given direction to set or clear a corresponding pair of signals, means on the main track adapted to be set in operation by a car or train traveling in an opposite direction to set or clear the other pair of signals, and a signal located Within the block and included in the circuit of -one of the pairs of signals to indicate the position of said pair of signals` 8. A signal system in which the return current for operating the car is taken through the rails, said system comprising a signal track circuit, an insulated rail section included in said track circuit, and additional insulated sections between..the signal track circuit rail and the ends of the rail carrying the return current, said ends being con- 'nected by a bond. 

